Leading off today: McQuaid scored just 29 seconds into the game and went on to roll past Baldwinsville 6-2 for the NYSPHSAA boys Division I hockey championship Sunday in Utica.
The Knights rang two more shots off the post and had another goal disallowed in the first two minutes, forcing Bees coach Mark Lloyd to use a timeout to regroup.
McQuaid registered the first 11 shots on goal of the game but still skated out of the first period with just the 1-0 lead. "It was only 1-0 and you get scared because you think this might not end up our way," Knights senior Campbell told the Democrat and Chronicle. "We came out on a mission in the second period."
McQuaid scored four minutes into the second period, and then the Bees collapsed during a four-minute power play by allowing short-handed goals from Jack Dugan and Christian Leonardi for a 4-0 lead.
"They are just at a different level," Lloyd told Syracuse.com. "They're bigger, faster, stronger. It's hard to compete with a team like that."
In the Division II championship, Skaneateles scored three goals in a five-minute span in the second period to erase a 2-0 deficit and rolled past Williamsville East 5-2 for the school's first state crown since 1989.
"These guys made my job a piece of cake," Lakers coach Mitch Major said. "As you can see the score didn't matter and that's the mark of a true championship team."
Skaneateles outshot the Flames 16-4 during the second period. The key moment of the contest may have come with the Lakers down 2-1 and on their first power play of the game. Defenseman Owen Kuhns fired from the blue line and Flames goalie Max Battistoni batted the shot to his right with the blocker glove. Reggie Buell lunged at the puck and swatted it from waist level into the back of the net.
"I always practice my hand-eye in practice and I get a lot of deflections," Buell said.
Ray Falso scored his second goal three minutes later and Skaneateles never looked back.
Just in time: Caught in traffic on the Whitestone Bridge, Christ the King junior sensation Rawle Alkins arrived at the CHSAA Class AA boys basketball final at Fordham University just minutes before tipoff vs. Xaverian.
His time was good and the performance was better. Alkins lead Christ the King to a 59-56 win over the Clippers with 21 points, presenting the Royals with their third straight championship. The CHSAA's third three-time champ in 88 years will bid for a third straight Federation championship in Albany in two weeks.
With the game tied 2-2 when he entered 1:14 into the first quarter, Alkins scored on a short jumper on his first possession but didn't score again for the rest of the quarter. He added seven points in the second quarter.
"I was going crazy," Alkins told The Daily News. "This could've potentially been my last high school basketball game, and I was thinking, 'I could be late to my last basketball game?' I ran here from the entrance and got dressed in the car, but traffic at exit 4B was crazy."
Xaverian moved out to a 34-29 lead early in the second half, but the Royals went on a 15-2 run, taking the lead on an Alkins 3-pointer to cap the third quarter.
Sunday's win completed a weekend sweep for Christ the King. A day earlier, the Lady Royals made it four straight wins over Archbishop Molloy this winter with a 62-55 triumph. Junior guard Sydney Zambrotta tallied 32 points as CK won its first CHSAA state title since 2010.
PSAL progress: Springfield Gardens eeked out a 58-56 win over Bedford Academy in the PSAL boys 'A' semis Sunday. Daniel Kisson drove to the basket for a layup in the final seconds for the winning bucket.
